Transatlantic ETOPS question with respect to the volcano

[Coxy99]

Please excuse the limited knowledge on this subject, im hoping some of you can provide more details on a question I have regarding transatlantic operations with respect to the volcano in Iceland.

If a twin engine aircraft is being operated on a transatlantic route under ETOPS im under the impression one of the major Icelandic airfields is used as an emergency divert for part of the route depending on the level of ETOPS approval.

Would the closure of both major Icelandic airports result in the route being stopped or is there another way the operation can be continued under non standard situations such as this?

Thanks for any insight, ive only got my ATPL theory notes to fall back on at this point.

[Spooky 2]

BIKF is a freqently designated ETOPS alternate airport. Should it not be available due to volcanic activity, or weather for that matter, the NAT tracks would be repositioned further south so the LPLA would be the most likely designated alternate for that part of the flight. We are talking 120 minute ETOPS.

[WHBM]

You are correct that an ETOPS flight needs its "nnn minutes" alternates to be operating when it departs.

However the rated number of ETOPS minutes have of course steadily increased over time, and the North Atlantic isn't that great a crossing. Prestwick and St Johns form adequate ETOPS alternates for many operations. It's not unknown at other times for Keflavik to be knocked out by winter blizzards.